Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales. Second Series

Illustrated by Edna F. Hart Ginn and Company Boston—New York—Chicago—London

COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY GINN AND COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 315.2 The Athenæum Press GINN AND COMPANY · PROPRIETORS · BOSTON · U.S.A.

HE present volume is the second of the selected stories from Hans Andersen. Together the books include what, out of a larger number, are the best for children's use. The story-telling activity of this inimitable genius covered a period of more than forty years. Besides these shorter juvenile tales, there are a few which deserve to survive. The Ice Maiden is a standard, if not a classic, and The Sandhills of Jutland was pronounced by Ruskin the most perfect story that he knew.
It adds a charm to the little stories of these two volumes to know that the genial author traveled widely for a man of his time and everywhere was urged to tell the tales himself. This he did with equal charm in the kitchens of the humble and in the courts and palaces of nobles.
As was said in the preface to the first volume, wherever there are children to read, the stories of Hans Christian Andersen will be read and loved.



HE flax was in full bloom; it had pretty little blue flowers, as delicate as the wings of a moth. The sun shone on it and the showers watered it; and this was as good for the flax as it is for little children to be washed and then kissed by their mothers. They look much prettier for it, and so did the flax.